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McCarthy able to limit damage in six-inning outing

3/5/13: Brandon McCarthy is interviewed by the D-backs' announcers in the top of the second and discusses his progress this spring

By Steve Gilbert
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MLB.com |

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Brandon McCarthy became the first D-backs starter to toss six innings Wednesday against the White Sox.

The right-hander allowed 10 hits, but made pitches when he needed to. He got a pair of double plays and managed to allow just two runs.

"Just not really ever in sync," McCarthy said. "I felt like I did a decent job battling in trying to keep things together. It was easily one of those starts that can spin out of control much faster than you want it to. On the whole, it was kind of a continuation of last time where I just wasn't sharp, wasn't able to repeat and that kind of led to hits in counts I didn't want and some situations I should be able to avoid."

When it was pointed out to him that he was able to get out of those jams, it seemed of little consolation.

"I was able to make some pitches when I needed to, it was just kind of every pitch was, 'This might be a really good one, this might be a really bad one.'" he said. "There were enough good ones so I was able to keep moving through innings and enough bad ones where I was in jams and some situations that I should be able to avoid."

D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said he was pleased with what he saw.

"He was really efficient," Gibson said. "He got into some trouble and made some pitches. His changeup was really good today. He kind of got them off his fastball with his changeup and kept that down well."

Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveGilbertMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.